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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 11-Mar-2011
11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition

Web Log - March, 2011

11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition

Widespread Arab protests expected on Friday

Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi, said in a television interview by Reuters that the Libyan army has been patient enough with the rebels, and implied that a full-scale assault on the rebels is at hand.

Some excerpts:

"The French, the Europeans, they should talk to the Libyan people. ... If they want to support the militia, do it. But I tell you: you are going to lose. We will win. And we are not afraid of the American fleet, NATO, France, Europe. This is our country. We are here, we will die here."
"We will never ever give up. We will never ever surrender. This is our country. We fight here in Libya. The Libyan people, we will never ever welcome NATO, we will never ever welcome Americans here. Libya is not a piece of cake. We are not a Mickey Mouse."
"It's time for liberation. It's time for action. We are moving now. Everybody is very excited."
"In a few days ... you will see a surprise, you will see people in the east ... defeating the militia. ... They don't represent anybody. They are self-appointed people. ... It's a joke, it's a Mickey Mouse council. Nobody is with them."
"But the West still lives in this fantasy. You will see a big surprise. Nobody welcomes NATO, the Americans to occupy Libya. ... Now it's too late for them. We are so united, we are so strong. And Libya will be free and peaceful soon."
"The army is very patient. They gave them (rebels) two weeks ... trying to reach a peaceful end. Two weeks. Even with terrorists, they were still patient."

Gaddafi was saying that the Libyan government was going to defeat the rebels, not something the West wants to hear.

Unfortunately, America's National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, agrees with Saif. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Clapper said that Gaddafi would "prevail" over the rebels in Libya, according to CNN.

This was shocking to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, and to Democrat Carl Levin. Apparently Graham and Levin, like so many other people in Washington, want to believe their own fantasies as long as possible.

According to an analysis in the Debka subscriber-only newsletter, forwarded to me by a subscriber, Gaddafi is militarily well prepared to fight the rebels, and particularly has very sophisticated spy tools:

An advanced electronic tracking system backed by air drones and surveillance aircraft. The system had been installed by European security experts.

A state of the art electronic warfare system which is capable of jamming the British - and some of the American - communications lines with the rebels.

Eavesdropping capabilities that allowed him to eavesdrop to telephone conversations among the rebels, Americans and Brits.

A team of highly-trained assassins, used against foreign agents attempting to gather intelligence.

Despite all these obstacles, the West is moving inexorably towards military action in Libya. (See also "10-Mar-11 News -- The U.S. and Nato stumble toward military intervention in Libya.")

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is the first Western leader to recognize Libya's rebel opposition as the legitimate government of Libya. Sarkozy is also proposing that Nato conduct air strikes on three strategic targets in Libya, according to Agence France-Presse. Deutsche-Welle reports that Nato is moving warships close to Libya in the Mediterranean, and has radar aircraft monitoring Libya's airspace.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is planning to meet with Libya's opposition council next week, according to Al-Jazeera. "We are reaching out to the opposition inside and outside of Libya," she said. "I will be meeting with some of those figures, both in the United States and when I travel next week, to discuss what more the United States and others can do."

There are no good choices. If there's no outside intervention, then a vengeful Gaddafi will continue creating a humanitarian disaster with hundreds of thousands of refugees. If the west intervenes, then the war may escalate into a ground war, and continue for some time.

By the way, there was another interesting part of the testimony of National Intelligence Director, James Clapper on Thursday, according to CNN.

Carl Levin asked Clapper about what nation posed the greatest threat to the United States, expecting to hear Iran or North Korea.

Levin was shocked to hear Clapper say that Russia and China posed the greatest mortal threat, because of their nuclear arsenals and military capabilities. "Iran and North Korea are, you know of great concern. I don't know at this point in time they pose a direct mortal threat to the continental United States," he said.

Another Senator asked Clapper which nation has the "intent" to be the greatest adversary. Clapper said, "Probably China."

Levin was shocked again. This guy lives in a total Fantasyland.

It's nice to know that at least there's one person in Washington, James Clapper, who knows what's going on in the world.

Widespread Arab protests expected on Friday

Saudi Arabia police fired in the air to disperse protesters on Thursday, and three people were injured, according to Reuters. A spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry said police fired over the heads of the crowd after they attacked a police officer who was documenting the protest, and said two protesters and a police officer were injured.

Friday is Saudi Arabia's "Day of Rage," when thousands of people are expected to protest.

A surge in Arab protests are expected in the Gulf states on Friday, according to the Jerusalem Post.

As in the case of the protests in Egypt and Tunisia, the time after midday Friday prayers has turned out to be crucial in many Arab countries, as people pour out of mosques onto the streets.

On Friday, protests are also planned for Yemen, Kuwait and Bahrain.

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (11-Mar-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 11-Mar-2011 11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition

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Widespread Arab protests expected on Friday

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 11-Mar-2011
11-Mar-11 News -- Saif Gaddafi declares all out war on Libya opposition